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Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir on Sunday called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a current proposal for a prisoner exchange, warning that occupying Gaza City poses “serious risks” to the lives of hostages.
The appeal comes amid growing pressure from hostage families demanding a deal to secure the release of their relatives.
On Thursday, Netanyahu ordered immediate negotiations for the release of all hostages while pressing ahead with plans to occupy Gaza City and relocate its residents.
His remarks suggest he may be seeking a deal under new conditions, while mediators await an official response to an Egyptian-Qatari proposal. The plan is largely consistent with earlier Israeli agreements and was recently accepted by Hamas.
“There is a deal on the table, and it should be taken now,” Zamir told Israeli Channel 13. “The army has provided the conditions for its completion, and the decision is now in Netanyahu’s hands.”
Zamir renewed his concerns over a planned occupation of Gaza City. “The army is capable of occupying Gaza, but the operation could seriously endanger the lives of hostages,” he said.
Families of hostages welcomed his comments. “The chief of staff reflects the majority of the Israeli public’s demand for a comprehensive agreement that returns 50 hostages and ends the war,” the families said in a statement.
Israel estimates Hamas holds 50 hostages, including 20 alive, while Tel Aviv detains more than 10,800 Palestinians. Rights groups report cases of torture and medical neglect among Palestinian detainees.
On Friday, Defense Minister Israel Katz approved army plans for the occupation of Gaza City, vowing heavy fire and mass displacement.
According to Channel 12, the current proposal includes Israeli redeployment near the border to allow humanitarian aid, a temporary 60-day cease-fire during which the swap would occur in two phases — the release of 10 living hostages and 18 Israeli bodies in exchange for Palestinian detainees — followed by talks on a permanent cease-fire.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 62,700 Palestinians since October 2023, devastating the enclave, which is also facing famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its war on the enclave.
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